Iku Suzuki1, Masayuki Okuda2, Maki Tanaka3, Shigeru Inoue4, Shigeho Tanaka5, Chiaki Tanaka6. 1. School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan. 2. Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan. 3. Department of Child Education, Kyoto Seibo College, Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokiwamachi, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Shinjuku, Japan. 6. Division of Integrated Sciences, J. F. Oberlin University, Tokiwamachi, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An accurate description of physical activity (PA) at school is required for appropriate health interventions. We examined PA patterns in children, and identified the time periods that influenced them. METHODS: Forty students in five Japanese primary schools were asked to wear triaxial accelerometers for ≥7 days. We obtained coefficients of variance (CV) at 15 min intervals, and conducted factor analysis of the school periods. A questionnaire was used to investigate where students spent time before school, and during recess. RESULTS: The amount of PA, and its CV were higher around 8 a.m. (before-school period), 10 a.m. (morning recess), 1 p.m. (lunch recess), and 4 p.m. (commuting home from school). Moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA; ≥3.0 metabolic equivalent units [MET]) was highest during lunch recess and the after-school period (12.9 ± 7.4 min and 12.6 ± 6.2 min, respectively). The percentage of MVPA time was high (>15%) in the before-school period and morning and lunch recesses, but low (10%) in the after-school period. On factor analysis there were differences in PA patterns between the school period and the after-school period. The students who spent their time in the playground logged more MVPA time and less sedentary time (≤1.5 MET) than those who did not spend their time in the playground. CONCLUSION: Activities before school, and in the morning and lunch recesses influenced daily PA, and were different from after-school PA. Close attention to these periods may help in defining PA parameters during free time at school for PA interventions in children.
BACKGROUND: An accurate description of physical activity (PA) at school is required for appropriate health interventions. We examined PA patterns in children, and identified the time periods that influenced them. METHODS: Forty students in five Japanese primary schools were asked to wear triaxial accelerometers for ≥7 days. We obtained coefficients of variance (CV) at 15 min intervals, and conducted factor analysis of the school periods. A questionnaire was used to investigate where students spent time before school, and during recess. RESULTS: The amount of PA, and its CV were higher around 8 a.m. (before-school period), 10 a.m. (morning recess), 1 p.m. (lunch recess), and 4 p.m. (commuting home from school). Moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA; ≥3.0 metabolic equivalent units [MET]) was highest during lunch recess and the after-school period (12.9 ± 7.4 min and 12.6 ± 6.2 min, respectively). The percentage of MVPA time was high (>15%) in the before-school period and morning and lunch recesses, but low (10%) in the after-school period. On factor analysis there were differences in PA patterns between the school period and the after-school period. The students who spent their time in the playground logged more MVPA time and less sedentary time (≤1.5 MET) than those who did not spend their time in the playground. CONCLUSION: Activities before school, and in the morning and lunch recesses influenced daily PA, and were different from after-school PA. Close attention to these periods may help in defining PA parameters during free time at school for PA interventions in children.
Authors: Rafael M Tassitano; R Glenn Weaver; Maria Cecília M Tenório; Keith Brazendale; Michael W Beets Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2020-12-04 Impact factor: 6.457